Novel Virus Influenza A (H1N1sw) in South-Eastern France,April-August 2009

Background

In April 2009, the first cases of pandemic (H1N1)-2009 influenza [H1N1sw] virus were detected in France. Virological surveillance was undertaken in reference laboratories of the seven French Defence Zones.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We report results of virological analyses performed in the Public Hospitals of Marseille during the first months of the outbreak. (i) Nasal swabs were tested using rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) and two RT-PCR assays. Epidemiological characteristics of the 99 first suspected cases were analyzed, including detection of influenza virus and 18 other respiratory viruses. During three months, a total of 1,815 patients were tested (including 236 patients infected H1N1sw virus) and distribution in age groups and results of RIDT were analyzed. (ii) 600 sera received before April 2009 and randomly selected from in-patients were tested by a standard hemagglutination inhibition assay for antibody to the novel H1N1sw virus. (iii) One early (May 2009) and one late (July 2009) viral isolates were characterized by sequencing the complete hemagglutinine and neuraminidase genes. (iiii) Epidemiological characteristics of a cluster of cases that occurred in July 2009 in a summer camp were analyzed.

Conclusions/Significance

This study presents new virological and epidemiological data regarding infection by the pandemic A/H1N1 virus in Europe. Distribution in age groups was found to be similar to that previously reported for seasonal H1N1. The first seroprevalence data made available for a European population suggest a previous exposure of individuals over 40 years old to influenza viruses antigenically related to the pandemic (H1N1)-2009 virus. Genomic analysis indicates that strains harbouring a new amino-acid pattern in the neuraminidase gene appeared secondarily and tended to supplant the first strains. Finally, in contrast with previous reports, our data support the use of RIDT for the detection of infection in children, especially in the context of the investigation of grouped cases.     

Transient viral replication during analytical treatment interruptions in SIV infected macaques can alter the rebound-competent viral reservoir

Analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) play a central role in evaluating the efficacy of HIV-1 treatment strategies targeting virus that persists despite ART. However, it remains unclear if ATIs alter the rebound-competent viral reservoir (RCVR), the virus population that persists during ART and from which viral recrudescence originates after ART discontinuation. To assess the impact of ATIs on the RCVR, we used a barcode sequence tagged SIV to track individual viral lineages through a series of ATIs in Rhesus macaques. We demonstrate that transient replication of individual rebounding lineages during an ATI can lead to their enrichment in the RCVR, increasing their probability of reactivating again after treatment discontinuation. These data establish that the RCVR can be altered by uncontrolled replication during ATI.     

Diurnal variations in the contributions of autotrophic picoalgae and heterotrophic bacteria to planktonic production in an upland lake

An investigation of the diurnal variation in contributions toproduction of the autotrophic and heterotrophic components ofthe picoplankton community was carried out during August andSeptember in Llyn Padarn, a mesotrophic upland lake in NorthWales. The picoplankton was separated using 1 µm pore-sizedfilters into the smaller cell sized fraction (<1 µm),the majority of the bacteria and the larger cell sized picoalgae(<3>1 µm), together with some bacteria. The distributionof bacterial heterotrophic activity between these two fractionsof picoplankton was assessed by uptake of [¹⁴C]glucose and differentialfiltration. Thus, the absolute autotrophic production by picoalgaeand the heterotrophic contribution by bacteria to picoplanktoncommunity production via uptake of extracellular organic carbon(EOC) were determined. Rates of picoplankton community productionexhibited diurnal variation with maximum rates of 19.1 mg Cm^–3 h^–1 recorded at 18.00 h at 4 m depth in September.The bacterial contribution to picoplankton community productionincreased markedly between 15.00 and 18.00 h. Rates of absoluteautotrophic production varied less over 24 h than rates of accumulationin bacteria of ¹⁴C-labelled EOC released from the entire phytoplanktoncommunity. Bacteria contributed up to 86–98% of the neworganic carbon within the picoplankton community at the endof the day. The maximum rate of absolute autotrophic productionin the picoplankton was 1.6 mg C m^–3 h^–1 at 18.00h at 1 m in August, and the maximum rate of bacterial accumulationof new organic carbon was 18.5 mg C m^–3 h^–1 at 18.00h in September at 4 m depth. The diurnal pattern of picoplanktoncommunity production involved increasing rates during the daywith a maximum at 18.00 h. Autotrophic processes were dominantin the first 3–6 h of the light cycle and heterotrophicuptake of ¹⁴C-labelled EOC was the major component from 15.00h onwards. Bacterial uptake of newly released EOC by phytoplanktonwas rapid, comprised the majority of picoplankton production,particularly later in the day, and contributed a maximum of60% of the total pariculate primary production in plankton between15.00 and 18.00 h at 4 m in September with a mean contributionof between 6 and 26% over 24 h in these investigations. Theimportance of autotrophic processes in picoplankton communityproduction has been overestimated in previous investigations.Bacteria play a major role in transferring newly produced EOCrapidly from phytoplankton to the picoplankton community. Atthe end of the day, the majority of newly produced organic carbonis in bacterial cells and this production is significant inthe dynamics of carbon production within the entire planktoniccommunity.     

Iron absorption by CaCo 2 cells cultivated in serum-free medium as in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelial barrier

A cell culture system consisting of confluent monolayer of human enterocyte-like CaCo 2 cells, cultivated in a serum-free nutritive medium, on microporous synthetic membranes has been used as an in vitro model of the intestinal epithelial barrier. The uptake of ⁵⁵ferric citrate, as well as the transepithelial passage from the apical to the basolateral pole, have been studied. CaCo 2 cells accumulate iron in a time- and concentration-dependent process, largely specific from the apical pole. When ⁵⁵ferric citrate is added at the apical pole, radioiron appears at the basal pole and the clearance rate is ～four times higher than in the opposite direction; the amounts of ⁵⁵Fe increase with the concentration in iron citrate and the duration of incubation. At least two concurrent mechanisms could be involved in iron absorption across monolayers of CaCo 2 cells. A first route would correspond to a paracellular passage of the metal from the apical to the basal pole. The second route would involve a selective intake of iron at the apical pole and could require a reduction of ferric iron, prior to the entry. Iron accumulated by the cells would, for a minor part, be stored within ferritin, whereas the major part would be excreted at the basolateral pole, either as low molecular weight material of undetermined chemical composition but from which iron is easily mobilized by apotransferrin or associated with neosynthesized apotransferrin. Vesicular transport and protein synthesis seem to be required. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Immature stages of the bee fly Ligyra satyrus (F.) (Diptera: Bombyliidae): A hyperparasitoid of canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

We describe the third- and fourth-instar larva, pupa and biology of the hyperparasitoid bee fly Ligyra satyrus (Fabricius). The larval and pupal morphology of the bee fly is typical for members of the subfamily Anthracinae. The bee fly larvae are found inside cocoons of the scoliid Campsomeris tasmaniensis Saussure, an external parasite of canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in sugarcane fields at Ayr and Bundaberg, Queensland. Ligyra satyrus has been recorded attacking only C. tasmaniensis . Ligyra and its relatives are all parasites of predatory and parasitic, ground-nesting aculeate Hymenoptera such as Sphecidae, Pompilidae, Tiphiidae and Scoliidae. Larval morphology of the hyperparasite is similar to other ectoparasitic Bombyliidae and pupal morphology is compared to that of species in the same and related subfamilies. Rates of hyperparasitism at Gordonvale reported in the early 1900s are relatively high, but our results show that currently they are very low at Ayr and Bundaberg. These results suggest that the impact of the bee fly on natural control of the canegrubs by scoliids varies considerably.     

Ethogram of Abdopus aculeatus (d'Orbigny, 1834) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): Can behavioural characters inform octopodid taxomony and systematics?

An ethogram is provided for the small, intertidal, diurnal octopusAbdopus aculeatus (d'Orbigny, 1834). Information is based primarilyon in situ observations of adults, and supplemented with photographsof animals in aquaria. Aspects of the dymantic display, matingsystem, activity patterns, and habitat use appear similar tothose expressed by other members of Abdopus, as well as thelarge sister taxon Octopus cyanea, suggesting that these behavioursmay be conserved throughout the evolution of these octopuses.Many skin components are also shared with Octopus bimaculoides,which may reflect either an evolutionary affinity with thisoctopus, or convergence in these characters. If behaviouralunits such as those documented here are compiled in a consistentmanner for other species, then they may facilitate taxonomicidentification, as well as future evolutionary studies of octopodids.     

Song ranging by incubating male Blue-headed Vireos: the importance of song representation in repertoires and implications for song delivery patterns and local/foreign dialect discrimination

ABSTRACT.   Mechanisms used by birds to range their distance from singing conspecifics are being debated. In particular, the idea that an incoming song must be in a bird's repertoire for it to be ranged accurately is controversial, but important to our appreciation of the role ranging plays in song evolution. We tested the relation between ranging accuracy and songs in repertoires in playback experiments to male Blue-headed Vireos ( Vireo solitarius ) whose precise locations were known because they were incubating eggs. Males ranged songs heard while incubating and, when their mates relieved them at the nest, flew directly to the silent playback sites, suggesting that they remembered the locations of simulated intruders. Male vireos approached playback sites of local songs, likely in their own repertoires, more precisely than foreign songs recorded 95–645 km from our study site. Songs included in local and foreign playback tapes differed primarily in frequency modulation, but were similar in other measurements. These results support ranging theory as described by Morton (1986) . If the songs within an individual's repertoire are ranged with greater accuracy, we discuss how the stability of neighborhoods becomes a factor as to whether or not selection will favor repertoire sharing in song evolution. As well, singing style is affected by ranging. Because Blue-headed Vireos present their songs in a stereotyped order, a listener can compare ordered sequential changes in signal degradation. Comparing degradation in a sequence of songs adds a temporal element that should result in more accurate ranging of the singer's location.     

Alpha-proteobacterial symbionts of marine bryozoans in the genus Watersipora

Bacterial symbionts that resembled mollicutes were discovered in the marine bryozoan Watersipora arcuata in the 1980s. In this study, we used PCR and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, specific fluorescence in situ hybridization, and phylogenetic analysis to determine that the bacterial symbionts of "W. subtorquata" and "W. arcuata" from several locations along the California coast are actually closely related alpha-Proteobacteria, not mollicutes. We propose the names "Candidatus Endowatersipora palomitas" and "Candidatus Endowatersipora rubus" for the symbionts of "W. subtorquata" and "W. arcuata," respectively.     

A surface-focused biotinylation procedure identifies the Yersinia pestis catalase KatY as a membrane-associated but non-surface-located protein

This study identified major surface proteins of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. We applied a novel surface biotinylation method, followed by NeutrAvidin (NA) bead capture, on-bead digestion, and identification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The use of stachyose during biotinylation focused the reaction to the surface. Coupled with NA pulldown and immunoblot analysis, this method determined whether a protein was accessible to the surface. We applied the method to test the hypothesis that the catalase KatY is a surface protein of the plague bacterium Y. pestis. A rabbit serum recognized the catalase KatY as a major putative outer membrane-associated antigen expressed by Y. pestis cells grown at 37 degrees C. Similar findings by other groups had led to speculations that this protein might be exposed to the surface and might be a candidate for evaluation as a protective antigen for an improved plague vaccine. KatY was obtained only in the total membrane fraction, and stachyose greatly reduced its biotinylation as well as that of the periplasmic maltose binding protein, indicating that KatY is not on the bacterial surface. LC-MS-MS analysis of on-bead digests representing ca. 10(9) cells identified highly abundant species, including KatY, Pal, and OmpA, as well as the lipoprotein Pcp, all of which bound in a biotin-specific manner. Pla, Lpp, and OmpX (Ail) bound to the NA beads in a non-biotin-specific manner. There was no contamination from abundant cytoplasmic proteins. We hypothesize that OmpX and Pcp are highly abundant and likely to be important for the Y. pestis pathogenic process. We speculate that a portion of KatY associates with the outer membrane in intact cells but that it is located on the periplasmic side. Consistent with this idea, it did not protect C57BL/6 mice against bubonic plague.